To wonder what all the walkers would usually be doing

[CloseSchoolsProtecttheNHS]

I live in a small village near a lovely green open space for walks. I walk every single day and have done since I moved here many years ago. It's always been very quiet - many, many times I've been the only person out and have walked for an hour+ and not seen a soul.

Since Covid - and particularly since the summer - it's been mobbed! I'm dodging people constantly when out walking and although the size of the space means I can keep 2 metres away, I now often have groups of people behind, in front and to the sides of me which makes me a bit uncomfortable. Most are considerate but some are arseholes that want to brush past you so you have to be aware and it's a lot less relaxing. I'm pretty sure that they are local people as it's not a 'day out' place or anywhere people would know about let alone go to, and it's nice that more local people are out walking but... why have they all just discovered walking? It's not like it was a closely guarded secret before and we are quite rural. What would they normally be doing (for example today on a Saturday afternoon) that they now can't do that leaves walking as their only option??

(Yes I do kind of wish they'd bugger off and yes IABU for that as I don't own this piece of land! But mostly I'm just really perplexed as to why so many people are now out walking!)

Honestly.. On a weekend we would normally have two seperate kids football games, 1 swimming lesson, 1 rugby training session and a kids party every few weeks. Thats just the kids without adult activities and meeting with friends.....
As none of these are allowed- we walk or cycle

I'm also irritated by your faux ignorance OP. I'd like to be spending my Sunday going for a swim, out for Sunday lunch, visiting family. Instead I'll be going for another walk as there's nothing else to do. Your right to walk doesn't trump the right of others.

I can't even read the word walk anymore without being overcome with ennui.

But mostly I'm just really perplexed as to why so many people are now out walking!

Seriously? It's hardly rocket science is it?

Probably walking somewhere far more interesting than the local green. But now they aren't allowed to travel to a nice place to walk.

I’ve noticed this with running. I’ve run for the last five years, but lately I’m seeing so many more runners out and about. You can always tell that they’re novices because they don’t seem to have the etiquette figured out, I.e not running single file, not moving to let walkers pass etc. I suppose they’d normally be in the gym hogging the equipment.

In our case we would usually have one of us with DS1 watching him play football and the other one with DS2 at swim training. Or if its cricket season all of us would be at the cricket. Its not hard to work out really that the only leisure activity left for most is walking or cycling. No shopping, soft play, pubs, amateur sports, bowling, swimming etc

It’s obvious and I do think numbers will decrease once restrictions ease and then when it’s over whenever that is your space will be peaceful again. I have always walked I grew up in a rural area and we didn’t have a car. Both DH and I love hill walking but live just over an hour away from the Peaks and obviously not going currently. I think walking is under estimated as an exercise.

@Biscoffaddict

I’ve noticed this with running. I’ve run for the last five years, but lately I’m seeing so many more runners out and about. You can always tell that they’re novices because they don’t seem to have the etiquette figured out, I.e not running single file, not moving to let walkers pass etc. I suppose they’d normally be in the gym hogging the equipment.

Weren’t you once a novice runner? ‘Hogging’ the equipment, or ‘using’ it? Do you have such disdain for all other human beings, or just the ones who dare to run in your space?

Why are people suddenly out walking, really?! There's not a lot else to do, especially in the UK, right now...

Dd1 would be horse riding, dd2 would be at dance class, dd3 would have violin... although we have a dog so family walks are normal, driving back from the field (within our town) there’s a 60mph road with a pavement that usually only has the odd runner (myself included). It was so busy it looked like the town centre! The shift is very strange. We drove to a field we pay for a license to use as the 2 beautiful country parks are too busy.

Biscoffaddict or maybe, like me, they're starting a January health kick and have downloaded the Couch to 5k app to make a start at running? Your attitude is horrible. Everyone has to start somewhere.

I live down a short narrow lane that ends in a footpath. Usually deserted and the only people who come down here live down here.

Now it's like Piccadilly Circus and for some reason I find it really irritating 😠

Do you really need to ask? We have been stopped doing nearly everything, for instance on a Saturday I would do the parkrun for exercise then after breakfast head off to do jobs, before going out for dinner or to the pub to see live music, on a Sunday sometimes we went walking (typically 10 miles) but would also do things like events with his motorbike, countywide shows, open water swimming in summer/indoor pool, see friends etc. Only activity I can do today is walking, just making sandwiches for my backpack, we have a 12 mile route planned so I don't care what the government says, I need lunch!

Sorry, I didn't answer your question in my first post so I will - hard to remember now actually ha ha but probably going out for lunch/dinner/drinks, shopping, travelling/having weekend breaks, maybe seeing friends. Going for a day trip then walking somewhere else rather than the streets around my house!

Probably stuck at a children's birthday party or at home trying to regroup after spending a morning at one!
Our kids had activities all across weekends, football, dance, swimming so in between that it was nice to be at home. Now we have no choice to take them for a walk so they get some exercise and fresh air.

Oh and we can't visit our adult daughters or parents that was usually a Sunday thing to do

Maybe, instead of pretending you don't know why more people are out walking on 'your' patch, you should try being grateful to them that normally they'd be off doing other things, thereby giving you the space you usually have.

You'll get your quiet walks back, just as children will get their schools and friends back, just as the population will get back the freedom to enjoy other activities. Until then, suck it up, buttercup.

I would rather be in the pub eating my lovely meal cooked by someone else and a large glass of wine with dd playing happily in the kids play area.
BUT I'm not sadly, I'm walking about the bloody streets with dd and an assortment of crap ( dolls pram, scooter or a bike) trailing behind me.
GET THE PUBS OPEN 😂😂

I actually think it’s pretty disgusting that the OP not only wants schools closed, but all begrudges the children who are being denied socialisation and education their only chance of fresh air and exercise.
Would you rather those inconvenient pesky kids just stayed inside for a few months OP?

I get you, OP.

Yes, everyone has the same rights to rural walking as me. From a humanity point of view, I am GLAD people are walking again. It's good for them and helps foster a sense of responsibility or care for the countryside that can wain if you never have any interaction with it. Plus, many are walking their dogs much more than they would normally and so it's good for the dogs too.

I am still looking forward to when all the busineses etc are allowed to open because I'll once again find myself all alone in the fields

I am totally U for it, but I am looking forward to it, all the same!

@BigusBumus

I live down a short narrow lane that ends in a footpath. Usually deserted and the only people who come down here live down here.

Now it's like Piccadilly Circus and for some reason I find it really irritating 😠

Me too!

I don't actually find it irritating though, I"m just in wonder where they all come from?

My cat loves it, she sits in the window watching them all day (although I find I have to actually draw the curtains in the evenings now- something we've never done)

My MIL asked me the same question. She couldn't understand why all these people were walking in her village - where on earth were they all before?

Um ... working was my initial reply. 'Well those two across the road go out TWICE a day now, I don't know why all of a sudden they're doing it now, they should be working from home then not wandering around the village'.

It was a painful conversation. These people being furloughed doesn't seem like enough of an excuse to go for two walks a day to my MIL.

I won't mention any more because they've pretty much all been mentioned. It's really not that hard to work out OP.

On a Saturday we'd normally be doing an activity like bowling, the zoo or the cinema. Or going out for a meal. Obviously that's out of the question.

Going for a walk is one of the only reasons you're allowed to leave your house so I'm not sure why it's perplexing that more people are doing it.

They’ll be another thread along shortly saying ‘Why don’t parents take their kids out for a walk instead of plonking them in front of a screen ?’.......